DRC: who is Denis Kadima, the new president of the Ceni?

Denis Kadima was confirmed on October 22, 2021 by the Head of State, Félix Tshisekedi, at the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni).

© Sonia Rolley / RFI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

In the DRC, after weeks of negotiations and arm wrestling, Denis Kadima was confirmed, Friday, October 22, by the Head of State at the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni). 

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60-year-old Denis Kadima impresses above all with his CV.

This electoral expert was trained at the University of Lumbumbashi and obtained a master's degree from one of the largest South African universities, that of Witwatersrand.

The

headed since 2002 the Electoral Institute for a Sustainable Democracy in Africa, based in Johannesburg and, before that, worked for the National Democratic Institute, an American think tank.

With this experience, he provided technical support to various observation missions with the African Union, ECOWAS and Sadc.

In total, Denis Kadima, who speaks five languages, participated in more than 80 electoral processes.

This was for example the case in Sudan, Tunisia and, more recently, in Côte d'Ivoire where he led the joint mission with the Carter Center during the presidential election in October 2020.

Kasai, "the only point in common" with the president

And yet the opposition and in particular the Catholic and Protestant Churches - which do not question his skills - fiercely opposed his candidacy, accusing him of being too close to the Head of State, and of not being impartial.

The determination to impose it only increased suspicion.

Denis Kadima comes from the province of Kasai just like President Félix Tshisekedi but "this 

 ", indicate his supporters who ask that he be judged on his work.

As soon as he invested, Denis Kadima promised the Congolese a credible electoral process.

On your Twitter account, the new president of the Ceni thanked the head of state.

And tried to reassure by promising to hold the elections within the constitutional deadlines.

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• Felix Tshisekedi